The reality check ladies is that labour and giving birth looks worse when it’s somebody else’s! Agreed, at the time you feel as though you are going to die, but squirming, rocking, walking, cursing, blaming your partner – ‘this is all your fault!’ – does help you to get through contractions. The good news too is that there are breaks between contractions when you have no pain and briefly feel human. During these breathers you get the chance to regain some of your dignity and prepare for the next contraction.
Over the years I’ve learned to use the power of my mind to deal with pain and difficult situations, to trust my instincts, ask for help when I need it and leave the rest to my body. Giving birth, feeding babies and nurturing family is what we’re hard-wired to do ladies. Somehow, no matter the circumstances - we manage!
Remember too that (providing we’re healthy) the body is self-healing. Our invincible hormonal system tirelessly readjusts and rebalances major systems, with instructions to either fight or flee. Not only are our hormones an invisible behind-the-scenes back-up and support system, they’re also there to do the ‘mopping-up’.
Like prostaglandins. These hormones play their part in ovulation, menstruation and labour – helping the womb to contract and relax. They’re made by a chemical reaction where and when they’re needed. Prostaglandins also deal with injury then disappear when their task is done.
Prostaglandins are balanced by endorphins. These ‘morphine-like’ hormones bring pain relief – even euphoria. As birth approaches your body also releases adrenaline and noradrenaline. These opposing hormones give you a surge of energy during strong expulsive contractions. The combination of these hormones will help you birth your baby and get you through the next few days after the birth when you have to deal with after-birth pain and discomforts.
Another hormone called relaxin may be giving you a hard time now. This hormone softens and relaxes pelvic joints making it easier for baby to negotiate the birth passage. In the final stages of pregnancy relaxin can make your pelvis slightly unstable, resulting in a waddle-walk and backache. Exercise with supervision. This is one time when ‘no pain no gain’ does not apply!
